The Afghan Fig, Ficus johannis var afghanistanica was first described by Polish botanist Browicz in 1982.
Browicz (1982) Flora of Iran Moraceae
The distribution is centered in the hills of both Iran and Afghanistan but it also grows wild in Baluchistan, Oman and the Gulf states.
The Afghan fig grows both in the wild and is also cultivated for its distinctive small sweet edible figs. Locals use the latex to curdle milk for cheese.
In its dry, rocky, native habitat wild individuals are heavily grazed by goats and can only survive on cliffs and other inaccessible sites.
In comparison to the UK the rainfall of Iran and Afghanistan averages less than half the annual rainfall in the UK c. 240mm as compared with c. 550mm in the UK.
In general the summers in Iran are hotter and the winters colder than the UK.
Dried Afghan fig fruits are sold by many Middle Eastern grocery shops in London UK.
The photos show an Afghan fig seedling around 18 months old grown outdoors from seed in the UK.
Note that if you do grow this fig in the UK you are unlikely to obtain edible figs because the UK is too cold for for pollinating fig wasps to survive.
The seeds of the Afghan figs sold in the UK are very easy to germinate.
